I have to think this through, but I thought I might post some of the things running through my head.
One the one hand, if the process is anything like what Corapi describes with secret accusers and secret accusations and no due process, the Church is acting in a grossly unfair way.
On the other hand, it has only been three months and he throws in the towel on the whole priesthood? Rather than suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Corapi answered the ‘to be or not to be’ with a resounding ‘not to be.’
The process may be grossly unfair, but it really has only begun. Throwing in the towel so quickly, unfair process or not, is not the only thing that stinks in Denmark.
Leaving the priesthood so that you can continue your (profit making?) ministry after three months says that he does not hold his priesthood in very high regard. How can a priest give up saying the Mass so easily?
There are priests in China who suffer much more than Corapi has in these last few months at the hands of a much more unjust system but would never consider giving up their legitimate priesthood. Never.
This quick decision to abandon the priesthood by Corapi cannot help leave one with the impression that the priesthood was only a means to an end. When the going got rough, he quickly dumped the priesthood to move on. This does not speak well of him.
I have a tendency to think in analogies and metaphors to help clarify my thinking. I know this is not a perfect parallel but imagine…
I have unfairly been accused of adultery. My wife ignores my protestations and moves out and will not even pick up the phone. What kind of man would I be if I said after three months, I guess divorce is my only option?
What about pray, suffer, persevere? And then pray some more?
I don’t think that quitting the priesthood necessarily means that Corapi is guilty of what he has been accused (but it doesn’t inspire confidence.) That said, quitting the priesthood may mean he was not a very good priest or man.
June 20, 2011 at 4:09 pm
Corapi can't claim he was never allowed to know who his accuser is and also be suing her, which he is.
He's a grifter, a con artist, a huckster, a sham, always has been, probably always will be.
He exhibits classic narcissistim personality disorder, he suffers from delusions of grandeur, and may also suffer from paranoid delusions as well.
He lied about his military background, he operates outside the normal boundaries of religious life, he has a "personal trainer" named Gina, he claims some mystery illness requires him to faux-tan and dye his hair, he lives in a lavish home on his own, has his own media company, requires his employees to sign non-disclosure clauses, etc., etc., etc.
Then, the bizarro wolf/dog/sheep fantasy fanboi icon, the gradiose announcement that he alone is now guarding the sheep (baa) in the world, the creepy FB page…
C'mon people…wake up.
I've even seen a few of his whackier devotees claim it's not really him, he's being held captive somewhere, and it's an imposter acting as him in order to slam his good name (seriously — you can't make this stuff up!).
At some point the only response to this creepy guy and his even creepier worhipers is to laugh. They no longer deserve the benefit of the doubt or to be taken seriously at all.
June 20, 2011 at 5:00 pm
Let's just wait and see what's up. By his fruits we will know him. Everything hidden will be revealed.
June 20, 2011 at 5:31 pm
Look I have no barge to row in this matter, but I have to say I never liked Fr Corapu's preaching style at all. I found it to be brusque, tough, abrasive and a little too me, me me and all my past things Ive done before I was ordained a priest. But that being said, it does not matter if he is totally innocent of any sham charges brought against him by someone we don't even know. Accusations which are false must be condemned. Earlier this decade accusations of a very serious nature were made against Cardinal Pell of Sydney. He stepped aside for a couple of months while a judge came in and they had a 'trial' of some nature. Pell denied the accusations against him when he was a seminarian running a school camp and the charges were found not proven. He returned to his See and of course the rest is history.
So why cannot there be a similar 'court' for Corapi and others soTHE TRUTH CAN BE FOUND OUT. Why not?
Arch Weakland admitted having an affair with another man and is still a bishop and still saying Mass. And loads of money were paid in that case
Something is wring somewhere. Many priests and bishops are being attacked and going. Some get attacked and stay.
What's happening?
Adam
June 20, 2011 at 7:38 pm
I think that to begin to understand this process, one must think subjectively, that is the mind of John Corapi. While ony one person can do that, empathy for his situatuion demands that we think it through from the perpective of the accused.
To begin with, then Fr. Corpapi was suspended from ministry on the basis of unsupported accusation. In fairness, the Bishops have put any clergyman in a bad spot, anyone that is not psychotic that accuses them can halt their ministry. Zero due process.
Secondly, as Fr. Corpapi was an outspoken reformer, he attracted both friends and ememies.
Thirdly, those ememies, in his mind, were using the investiagtion to permaently stop his ministry.
To continue as a priest could mean permanent silence.
To continue as a public lay man would mean he could continue his work.
The Church is divine and human, I for one will not judge a man who struggles against its humanness. Remember. Abp. Sheen resigned…
June 20, 2011 at 8:26 pm
This is all so very troubling. There are so many vague statements contained in his statement, that one cannot really know what it means.
There is an apparent lack of humility in Fr. (I'll still call him by that moniker, at least for now) Corapi's response to this whole thing. That is troubling.
There is also a big lack of charity in so many of the previous posts – maybe even more troubling.
Personally I find it hard to pray for someone or something I know little of, and yet I must try. We are called to pray, even for our enemies, and Fr. Corapi is certainly no enemy. He has been a great preacher and teacher for 20 years.
Anyone who is aware of Church history knows that sometimes things can take a very, very long time to come to resolution. Sometimes (many times?) more than one person's life time. So with that in mind, I believe the best course of action is to pray for everyone involved – Fr. Corapi, his superiors, the Bishop of Corpus Christi, Fr. Corapi's accuser, the various members of counsel for each side. And Holy Mother Church and ALL of her members.
June 20, 2011 at 8:27 pm
Litany of Humility by Merry Cardinal del Val, secretary of state to Pope Saint Pius X
O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being loved, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being honored, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being praised, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being approved, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being despised, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected, Deliver me, O Jesus.
That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised and I go unnoticed, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
June 21, 2011 at 4:42 pm
I don't know the man from Adam, and maybe he's guilty and off his rocker but whatever happened to "but by the grace of God there go I" people? It's one thing to judge right and wrong fairly, but it seems a lot of Christians here pass a kind of self righteous judgment just to sound off and forget that the spiritual work of mercy of "admonishing the sinner" is meant to correct a soul in order to build him back up again in love- not make the person into a fool even if he has acted foolish. To paraphrase, remove the beam in you own eye first, then worry about the speck in your brother's eye. Pray for this man who still apparently is encouraging people to stay in and love the church despite his own personal failings or struggles.
June 21, 2011 at 5:17 pm
I'm not defending Corapi but this commenter was too funny:
"He's a grifter, a con artist, a huckster, a sham, always has been, probably always will be." Hmmm, maybe this person should have been on the investigative team. Get the guilty verdict done quicker. Who needs impartially, right? 🙂 The Church is a museum for saints silly people not a hospital for sinners!
"he operates outside the normal boundaries of religious life"
Yeah, I saw a couple of priests at Panera once in running clothes. I mean that's just not right. It's like seeing an old teacher shopping in the mall or going to the movies. Some people aren't supposed to have a life.
"he has a "personal trainer" named Gina,"
Priests aren't supposed to be healthy or fit. It's not like they have a lot of work to do.
"he claims some mystery illness requires him to faux-tan and dye his hair,"
Yes, canonical law was updated to be more in line with Calvinistic Puritanism. Religious who dye hair, get a tan or a haircut, clip nails, or use deodorant are guilty of mortal sins! All is vanity as you know.
"he lives in a lavish home on his own,"
Yeah, our bishop just bought and 800,000 home but it's ok because he's above criticism being a bishop and all.
"has his own media company,"
Pssst, don't tell the Evangelicals or they'll get in on this whole media thing and win more converts than the Catholic Church. The Holy Spirit hates television and computers, don't you know that!
"requires his employees to sign non-disclosure clauses, etc., etc., etc."
Well if you call that running a business I'll eat my shorts.
June 21, 2011 at 5:21 pm
I believe myself that there is now in the Church an concerted effort to destroy any orthodox person like Mother Angelica, and just recently Michael Voris who was actually recently forbidden to speak in a certain diocese and had to go elsewhere. Coincidence, I don't think so. Also there is no doubt the Zero Tolerance Policy has taken away the rights all priests are to have under the 1983 Code of canon law. Change is needed. On the other hand I do not agree with his decision on June 17.
June 27, 2011 at 12:36 am
If Corapi was a priest of real conviction, he would retrn to his community nd ride this out…
Bottom line: his media empire riches are more important to him than his priestly vows… pathetic
July 6, 2011 at 6:21 pm
Corapi has a good business going selling god. being a catholic priest is useless. Its a joke. Plus he likes women, a natural function which the catholic cult tries to suppress.The CC would rather its priests be homosexual